A network perspective on posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid borderline personality disorder symptoms.

Background: Comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) is surrounded by diagnostic controversy and although various effective treatments exist, dropout and nonresponse are high.Objective: By estimating the network structure of comorbid PTSD and BPD symptoms, the current study illustrates how the network perspective offers tools to tackle these challenges.Method: The sample comprised of 154 patients with a PTSD diagnosis and BPD symptoms, assessed by clinician-administered interviews. A regularised partial correlation network was estimated using the GLASSO algorithm in R. Central symptoms and bridge symptoms were identified. The reliability and accuracy of network parameters were determined through bootstrapping analyses.Results: PTSD and BPD symptoms largely clustered into separate communities. Intrusive memories, physiological cue reactivity and loss of interest were the most central symptoms, whereas amnesia and suicidal behaviour were least central.Conclusions: Present findings suggest that PTSD and BPD are two distinct, albeit weakly connected disorders. Treatment of the most central symptoms could lead to an overall deactivation of the network, while isolated symptoms would need more specific attention during therapy. Further experimental, longitudinal research is needed to confirm these hypotheses.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03833453.

A network analysis of PTSD and BPD symptoms.PTSD and BPD symptoms largely clustered into separate communities.Intrusive memories, loss of interest and physiological cue reactivity seem valuable treatment targets.

Prescriptive factors for intensive home treatment in acute psychiatry: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Intensive home treatment (IHT) aims to prevent psychiatric hospitalisation. Although this intervention is well tested, it is still unknown for whom this intervention works best. Therefore, this study aims to explore prescriptive factors that moderate the effect of IHT compared to care as usual (CAU) on symptom severity. METHODS: Using data from a randomised controlled trial, 198 participants that experience an exacerbation of acute psychiatric symptoms were included in this secondary analysis. In order to maximise clinical relevance, generally available environmental and clinical baseline factors were included as tentative moderators: age, gender, employment status, domestic situation, psychiatric disorders, psychological symptoms, psychosocial functioning, alcohol and other substance use. The outcome variable symptom severity was measured using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and collected at 26 and 52 weeks post-randomisation. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine which participants' characteristics moderate the effect of IHT on the total BPRS score. RESULTS: Our results suggest that being employed (B = 0.28, SE = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.03-0.53, p = 0.03) at baseline seems to have a moderation effect, which result in lower symptom severity scores at 26 weeks follow-up for patients who received IHT. This effect was not found at 52 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the number of factors tested, there is no evidence for robust outcome moderators of the effect of IHT versus CAU. Our conclusion is therefore that IHT can be offered to a diverse target population with comparable clinical results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered (date of registration: 2016-11-23) at the international clinical trials registry platform (NTR6151).

Internet and Computer-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depressive disorders are prevalent in adolescents and young adults. However, most young people with mental health problems do not receive treatment. Computerized cognitive behavior therapy (cCBT) may provide an accessible alternative to face-to-face treatment, but the evidence base in young people is limited. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to perform an up-to-date comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of cCBT in treating anxiety and depression in adolescents and young adults compared with active treatment and passive controls. We aimed to examine posttreatment and follow-up effects and explore the moderators of treatment effects. METHODS: We conducted systematic searches in the following six electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included randomized controlled trials comparing cCBT with any control group in adolescents or young adults (age 12-25 years) with anxiety or depressive symptoms. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials, version 2.0. Overall quality of evidence for each outcome was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Posttreatment means and SDs were compared between intervention and control groups, and pooled effect sizes (Hedges g) were calculated. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore whether age, guidance level, and adherence rate were associated with treatment outcome. RESULTS: The search identified 7670 papers, of which 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most included studies (22/24) had a high risk of bias owing to self-report measures and/or inappropriate handling of missing data. Compared with passive controls, cCBT yielded small to medium posttreatment pooled effect sizes regarding depressive symptoms (g=0.51, 95% CI 0.30-0.72, number needed to treat [NNT]=3.55) and anxiety symptoms (g=0.44, 95% CI 0.23-0.65, NNT=4.10). cCBT yielded effects similar to those of active treatment controls regarding anxiety symptoms (g=0.04, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.31). For depressive symptoms, the nonsignificant pooled effect size favored active treatment controls (g=-0.70, 95% CI -1.51 to 0.11, P=.09), but heterogeneity was very high (I2=90.63%). No moderators of treatment effects were identified. At long-term follow-up, cCBT yielded a small pooled effect size regarding depressive symptoms compared with passive controls (g=0.27, 95% CI 0.09-0.45, NNT=6.58). No other follow-up effects were found; however, power was limited owing to the small number of studies. CONCLUSIONS: cCBT is beneficial for reducing posttreatment anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescents and young adults compared with passive controls. Compared with active treatment controls, cCBT yielded similar effects regarding anxiety symptoms. Regarding depressive symptoms, however, the results remain unclear. More high-quality research involving active controls and long-term follow-up assessments is needed in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42019119725; https://tinyurl.com/y5acfgd9.

Testing a clinical staging model for bipolar disorder using longitudinal life chart data.

OBJECTIVE: Bipolar disorder has a wide range of clinical manifestations which may progress over time. The aim of this study was to test the applicability of a clinical staging model for bipolar disorder and to gain insight into the nature of the variables influencing progression through consecutive stages. METHODS: Using retrospectively reported longitudinal life chart data of 99 subjects from the Stanley Foundation Bipolar Network Naturalistic Follow-up Study, the occurrence, duration and timely sequence of stages 2-4 were determined per month. A multi-state model was used to calculate progression rates and identify determinants of illness progression. Stages 0, 1 and several other variables were added to the multi-state model to determine their influence on the progression rates. RESULTS: Five years after onset of BD (stage 2), 72% reached stage 3 (recurrent episodes) and 21% had reached stage 4 (continuous episodes), of whom 8% recovered back to stage 3. The progression from stage 2 to 3 was increased by a biphasic onset for both the depression-mania and the mania-depression course and by male sex. CONCLUSIONS: Staging is a useful model to determine illness progression in longitudinal life chart data. Variables influencing transition rates were successfully identified.

Return-to-work intervention versus usual care for sick-listed employees: health-economic investment appraisal alongside a cluster randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the health-economic costs and benefits of a guided eHealth intervention (E-health module embedded in Collaborative Occupational healthcare (ECO)) encouraging sick-listed employees to a faster return to work. DESIGN: A two-armed cluster randomised trial with occupational physicians (OPs) (n=62), clustered and randomised by region into an experimental and a control group, to conduct a health-economic investment appraisal. Online self-reported data were collected from employees at baseline, after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. SETTING: Occupational health care in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Employees from small-sized and medium-sized companies (≥18 years), sick-listed between 4 and 26 weeks with (symptoms of) common mental disorders visiting their OP. INTERVENTIONS: In the intervention group, employees (N=131) received an eHealth module aimed at changing cognitions regarding return to work, while OPs were supported by a decision aid for treatment and referral options. Employees in the control condition (N=89) received usual sickness guidance. OUTCOMES MEASURES: Net benefits and return on investment based on absenteeism, presenteeism, health care use and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. RESULTS: From the employer's perspective, the incremental net benefits were €3187 per employee over a single year, representing a return of investment of €11 per invested Euro, with a break-even point at 6 months. The economic case was also favourable from the employee's perspective, partly because of QALY health gains. The intervention was costing €234 per employee from a health service financier's perspective. The incremental net benefits from a social perspective were €4210. This amount dropped to €3559 in the sensitivity analysis trimming the 5% highest costs. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the ECO intervention offers good value for money for virtually all stakeholders involved, because initial investments were more than recouped within a single year. The sometimes wide 95% CIs suggest that the costs and benefits are not always very precise estimates and real benefits could vary considerably. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR2108; Results.

Cost-utility of collaborative care for the treatment of comorbid major depressive disorder in outpatients with chronic physical conditions. A randomized controlled trial in the general hospital setting (CC-DIM).

PURPOSE: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent in patients with a chronic physical condition, and this comorbidity has a negative influence on quality of life, health care costs, self-care, morbidity, and mortality. Research has shown that collaborative care (CC) may be a cost-effective treatment. However, its cost-effectiveness in this patient group has not yet been established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-utility of CC for the treatment of comorbid MDD in chronically ill patients in the outpatient general hospital setting. The study was conducted from a health care and societal perspective. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 81 patients with moderate-to-severe MDD were included; 42 were randomly assigned to the CC group and 39 to the care as usual (CAU) group. We applied the TiC-P, short-form Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire, and EuroQol EQ-5D 3 level version, measuring the use of health care, informal care, and household work, respectively, at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months follow-up. RESULTS: The mean annual direct medical costs in the CC group were €6,718 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3,541 to 10,680) compared to €4,582 (95% CI: 2,782 to 6,740) in the CAU group. The average quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained were 0.07 higher in the CC group, indicating that CC is more costly but also more effective than CAU. From a societal perspective, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €24,690/QALY. CONCLUSION: This first cost-utility analysis in chronically ill patients with comorbid MDD shows that CC may be a cost-effective treatment depending on willingness-to-pay levels. Nevertheless, the low utility scores emphasize the need for further research to improve the cost-effectiveness of CC in this highly prevalent and costly group of patients.

Internet-based treatment for depression in multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Depression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is common but may stay untreated. Physical limitations impede face-to-face treatment. Internet-based treatment is therefore a promising tool for treating depression in MS. OBJECTIVES: To investigate effectiveness of a guided Internet-based problem-solving treatment (IPST) for depressed MS patients. METHODS: MS patients with moderate or severe depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to IPST or a wait list control. Primary outcome was the change in depressive symptoms defined by a change in sum score on the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II). Assessments took place at baseline (T0), within a week after the intervention (T1), and at 4 months follow-up (T2). Analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: A total of 171 patients were randomized to IPST ( n = 85) or a wait list control ( n = 86). T1 was completed by 152 (89%) and T2 by 131 patients (77%). The IPST group and wait list control showed large significant improvements in depressive symptoms, but no differences were found between groups at T1 ( d = 0.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) = (-4.03, 1.08); p = 0.259) and T2 ( d = 0.01; 95% CI = (-2.80, 2.98); p = 0.953). CONCLUSION: We found no indication that IPST for MS patients with moderate or severe depression is effective in reducing depressive symptoms compared to a waiting list. Large improvements in the wait list control were unexpected and are discussed.

Effectiveness of a blended web-based intervention on return to work for sick-listed employees with common mental disorders: results of a cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Common mental disorders are strongly associated with long-term sickness absence, which has negative consequences for the individual employee's quality of life and leads to substantial costs for society. It is important to focus on return to work (RTW) during treatment of sick-listed employees with common mental disorders. Factors such as self-efficacy and the intention to resume work despite having symptoms are important in the RTW process. We developed "E-health module embedded in Collaborative Occupational health care" (ECO) as a blended Web-based intervention with 2 parts: an eHealth module (Return@Work) for the employee aimed at changing cognitions of the employee regarding RTW and a decision aid via email supporting the occupational physician with advice regarding treatment and referral options based on monitoring the employee's progress during treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of a blended eHealth intervention (ECO) versus care as usual on time to RTW of sick-listed employees with common mental disorders. METHODS: The study was a 2-armed cluster randomized controlled trial. Employees sick-listed between 4 and 26 weeks with common mental disorder symptoms were recruited by their occupational health service or employer. The employees were followed up to 12 months. The primary outcome measures were time to first RTW (partial or full) and time to full RTW. Secondary outcomes were response and remission of the common mental disorder symptoms (self-assessed). RESULTS: A total of 220 employees were included: 131 participants were randomized to the ECO intervention and 89 to care as usual (CAU). The duration until first RTW differed significantly between the groups. The median duration was 77.0 (IQR 29.0-152.3) days in the CAU group and 50.0 (IQR 20.8-99.0) days in the ECO group (hazard ratio [HR] 1.390, 95% CI 1.034-1.870, P=.03). No significant difference was found for duration until full RTW. Treatment response of common mental disorder symptoms did not differ significantly between the groups, but at 9 months after baseline significantly more participants in the ECO group achieved remission than in the CAU group (OR 2.228, 95% CI 1.115-4.453, P=.02). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that in a group of sick-listed employees with common mental disorders, applying the blended eHealth ECO intervention led to faster first RTW and more remission of common mental disorder symptoms than CAU. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register NTR2108; http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=2108. (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6YBSnNx3P).

The influence of acculturation on mental health and specialized mental healthcare for non-western migrants.

BACKGROUND: The level of acculturation of migrants varies and is associated with variations in mental health. However, this association is complex and may differ among migrant groups. AIM: The aim of this study is to explore the association between acculturation, mental health and treatment effect. METHODS: In a longitudinal cohort study of patients treated in specialized mental health facilities, different dimensions of acculturation (skills, social integration, traditions, norms/values and feelings of loss) were explored for Moroccan, Turkish and Surinamese migrants in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the associations between acculturation status and symptom levels, quality of life, care needs and effects of mental health treatment were examined. Data were analyzed with analysis of covariance, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Acculturation status differed among migrant groups. Turkish migrants showed most original culture maintenance (traditions, norms/values), Surinamese migrants showed most participation in Dutch society (skills, social integration), while Moroccan migrants were situated in between. Higher cultural adaptation was associated with less need for care, lower symptom levels and a higher quality of life. Participation significantly predicted lower symptom levels (p < .001) and higher quality of life (p < .001) 6 months after the start of treatment. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that acculturation status is associated with symptom levels, quality of life and perceived need for care of migrants. Moreover, participation in Dutch society appears to be a favorable factor for treatment effect. It is of importance for professionals in clinical practice to be attentive to this.

Patient perspectives and the risk of compulsory admission: the Amsterdam Study of Acute Psychiatry V.

OBJECTIVE: Compulsory admission to a psychiatric hospital is associated with a three- to fourfold increase in the risk of another compulsory admission. Given the rising numbers of civil detentions in The Netherlands and other European countries, it is important to understand the mechanism behind this association. Our aim is to study the links between opinions about prior psychiatric treatment, insight, service engagement and the risk of (new) civil detentions. METHODS: We took a random sample of 252 from the 2,682 patients consecutively coming into contact with two psychiatric emergency teams in Amsterdam between September 2004 and September 2006. We recorded socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and information about prior involuntary admissions. We interviewed the patients using the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale (Verona-EU), the Birchwood Insight Scale and the Service Engagement Scale. During a two-year follow-up period we noted their use of mental health care facilities. RESULTS: Patients with a satisfactory score on the Verona-EU had significantly lower odds for civil detentions during follow-up compared to patients with a dissatisfactory score on this scale (OR = 0.3). Level of insight did not influence the risk of detention during follow-up. Furthermore, of the 131 patients admitted involuntarily the year before, one-third looked back on their involuntary admission with unambiguous satisfaction. CONCLUSION: More satisfaction with prior treatment seems to reduce the risk of civil detention remarkably. Low levels of satisfaction seem to be mainly dependent on a history of previous involuntary admission. These findings seem to open up a new perspective for diminishing the risk of (new) civil detention by trying to enhance satisfaction with treatment, especially for patients under detention.

Blended E-health module on return to work embedded in collaborative occupational health care for common mental disorders: design of a cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Common mental disorders (CMD) have a major impact on both society and individual workers, so return to work (RTW) is an important issue. In The Netherlands, the occupational physician plays a central role in the guidance of sick-listed workers with respect to RTW. Evidence-based guidelines are available, but seem not to be effective in improving RTW in people with CMD. An intervention supporting the occupational physician in guidance of sick-listed workers combined with specific guidance regarding RTW is needed. A blended E-health module embedded in collaborative occupational health care is now available, and comprises a decision aid supporting the occupational physician and an E-health module, Return@Work, to support sick-listed workers in the RTW process. The cost-effectiveness of this intervention will be evaluated in this study and compared with that of care as usual. METHODS: This study is a two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial, with randomization done at the level of occupational physicians. Two hundred workers with CMD on sickness absence for 4-26 weeks will be included in the study. Workers whose occupational physician is allocated to the intervention group will receive the collaborative occupational health care intervention. Occupational physicians allocated to the care as usual group will give conventional sickness guidance. Follow-up assessments will be done at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after baseline. The primary outcome is duration until RTW. The secondary outcome is severity of symptoms of CMD. An economic evaluation will be performed as part of this trial. CONCLUSION: It is hypothesized that collaborative occupational health care intervention will be more (cost)-effective than care as usual. This intervention is innovative in its combination of a decision aid by email sent to the occupational physician and an E-health module aimed at RTW for the sick-listed worker.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of transmural collaborative care with consultation letter (TCCCL) and duloxetine for major depressive disorder (MDD) and (sub)chronic pain in collaboration with primary care: design of a randomized placebo-controlled multi-Centre trial: TCC:PAINDIP.

BACKGROUND: The comorbidity of pain and depression is associated with high disease burden for patients in terms of disability, wellbeing, and use of medical care. Patients with major and minor depression often present themselves with pain to a general practitioner and recognition of depression in such cases is low, but evolving. Also, physical symptoms, including pain, in major depressive disorder, predict a poorer response to treatment. A multi-faceted, patient-tailored treatment programme, like collaborative care, is promising. However, treatment of chronic pain conditions in depressive patients has, so far, received limited attention in research. Cost effectiveness of an integrated approach of pain in depressed patients has not been studied. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a placebo controlled double blind, three armed randomized multi centre trial. Patients with (sub)chronic pain and a depressive disorder are randomized to either a) collaborative care with duloxetine, b) collaborative care with placebo or c) duloxetine alone. 189 completers are needed to attain sufficient power to show a clinically significant effect of 0.6 SD on the primary outcome measures (PHQ-9 score). Data on depression, anxiety, mental and physical health, medication adherence, medication tolerability, quality of life, patient-doctor relationship, coping, health resource use and productivity will be collected at baseline and after three, six, nine and twelve months. DISCUSSION: This study enables us to show the value of a closely monitored integrated treatment model above usual pharmacological treatment. Furthermore, a comparison with a placebo arm enables us to evaluate effectiveness of duloxetine in this population in a real life setting. Also, this study will provide evidence-based treatments and tools for their implementation in practice. This will facilitate generalization and implementation of results of this study. Moreover, patients included in this study are screened for pain symptoms, differentiating between nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Therefore, pain relief can be thoroughly evaluated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR1089.

Cognitive decline in elderly bipolar disorder patients: a follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: Older individuals with bipolar disorder may exhibit greater cognitive decline over time compared to mentally healthy elderly individuals. We aimed to investigate neurocognitive performance in bipolar disorder over a period of two years. METHODS: A comprehensive neuropsychological test battery was applied at baseline and two years later to 65 euthymic elderly outpatients with bipolar disorder (mean age = 68.35, range: 60-90 years) and to a demographically comparable sample of 42 healthy elderly controls. A general linear model was used to measure changes over time for the two groups. The impact of baseline illness characteristics on intra-individual change in neurocognitive performance within the bipolar group was studied by using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: At baseline and at follow up, bipolar disorder patients performed worse on all neurocognitive measures compared to the healthy elderly group. However, there was no significant group-by-time interaction between the bipolar disorder patients and the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: Although older bipolar disorder patients have worse cognitive function than normal controls, they did not have greater cognitive decline over a period of two years.

The Netherlands study of depression in older persons (NESDO); a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To study late-life depression and its unfavourable course and co morbidities in The Netherlands. METHODS: We designed the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons (NESDO), a multi-site naturalistic prospective cohort study which makes it possible to examine the determinants, the course and the consequences of depressive disorders in older persons over a period of six years, and to compare these with those of depression earlier in adulthood. RESULTS: From 2007 until 2010, the NESDO consortium has recruited 510 depressed and non depressed older persons (≥ 60 years) at 5 locations throughout the Netherlands. Depressed persons were recruited from both mental health care institutes and general practices in order to include persons with late-life depression in various developmental and severity stages. Non-depressed persons were recruited from general practices. The baseline assessment included written questionnaires, interviews, a medical examination, cognitive tests and collection of blood and saliva samples. Information was gathered about mental health outcomes and demographic, psychosocial, biological, cognitive and genetic determinants. The baseline NESDO sample consists of 378 depressed (according to DSM-IV criteria) and 132 non-depressed persons aged 60 through 93 years. 95% had a major depression and 26.5% had dysthymia. Mean age of onset of the depressive disorder was around 49 year. For 33.1% of the depressed persons it was their first episode. 41.0% of the depressed persons had a co morbid anxiety disorder. Follow up assessments are currently going on with 6 monthly written questionnaires and face-to-face interviews after 2 and 6 years. CONCLUSIONS: The NESDO sample offers the opportunity to study the neurobiological, psychosocial and physical determinants of depression and its long-term course in older persons. Since largely similar measures were used as in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA; age range 18-65 years), data can be pooled thus creating a large longitudinal database of clinically depressed persons with adequate power and a large set of neurobiological, psychosocial and physical variables from both younger and older depressed persons.

Neuropathological correlates of late-life depression.

The relationship between depression and both dementia and cerebrovascular pathology has, for good reason, received much attention from researchers and clinicians alike. Over previous decades, several generations of hypotheses have linked depression to the etiology or pathophysiology of dementia. Similarly, a host of studies have looked at the interplay between cerebrovascular pathology and late-life depression. This has resulted in new concepts of late-life depression, such as vascular depression. The study under evaluation sought to assess the neuropathological correlates of late-life depression by examining brains donated for study by a large sample of participants in the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study. The study is unique in its large size, representative sample of participants and rigorous exclusion of participants who were demented during their life, using structured interviews to diagnose depression at multiple life stages before death. The results suggest that depression is not associated with cortical pathology of either Alzheimer's dementia or cerebrovascular disease. There were associations with Lewy body pathology and loss of neurons in the hippocampus and other subcortical areas. Although the authors are cautious with regard to drawing firm conclusions, the results suggest that, in the community, depression is not an important etiological factor for the development of the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease and there was no association with cerebrovascular pathology. Although restricted to only very few subjects, the association with Lewy body pathology warrants further research, as does the association with neuronal loss in the hippocampus.

The three-year naturalistic course of major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder and double depression.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies support a distinction between acute and chronic forms of depression, which contrasts the single-disease hypothesis for depressive disorders. Insight into the (determinants of) the 3-year naturalistic course of major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymic disorder (Dysth) and double depression (DD) may contribute to this debate. METHODS: Data were derived from NEMESIS, an epidemiologic survey in the adult population of the Netherlands. 400 Respondents who met the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) criteria of MDD and/or Dysth were selected. Cox proportional hazards analyses and Linear Mixed Models were conducted to examine 3-year course trajectories of MDD, Dysth and DD and determinants for course. RESULTS: Adjusted analyses showed similar course trajectories for Dysth and DD, which were significantly worse than the course for MDD. Determinants of unfavorable course were neuroticism and poor functioning. LIMITATIONS: Attrition was higher among persons with Dysth. However, since attrition is generally associated with poorer outcome, this would indicate that differences in course may even have been larger in reality. CONCLUSIONS: Dysth and DD involve a similar course which is worse than the course of MDD only. These results do not support a distinction between Dysth and DD. Duration of symptoms and level of functioning may serve as two clinically relevant classifying dimensions within the broad category of depressive disorders.

Effect of fish-oil supplementation on mental well-being in older subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: It is suggested that a low intake of fish and/or n-3 PUFA is associated with depressed mood. However, results from epidemiologic studies are mixed, and randomized trials have mainly been performed in depressed patients, yielding conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on mental well-being in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. DESIGN: Independently living individuals (n = 302) aged > or =65 y were randomly assigned to consume 1800 mg/d EPA+DHA, 400 mg/d EPA+DHA, or placebo capsules for 26 wk. Changes in mental well-being were assessed as the primary outcome with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Montgomery-Asberg Rating Scale (MADRS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A). RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of EPA+DHA increased by 238% in the high-dose and 51% in the low-dose fish-oil group compared with the placebo group, reflecting excellent compliance. Baseline CES-D scores ranged from 5.9 to 6.8 in the 3 groups and were not significantly different between groups. Mean changes in CES-D scores after 26 wk were -0.2, 0.2, and -0.4 (P = 0.87) in the high-dose fish oil, low-dose fish oil, and placebo groups, respectively. Treatment with neither 1800 mg nor 400 mg EPA+DHA differentially affected any of the measures of mental well-being after 13 or 26 wk of intervention compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial we observed no effect of EPA+DHA supplementation for 26 wk on mental well-being in the general older population studied. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00124852.

Pain among nursing home patients in the Netherlands: prevalence, course, clinical correlates, recognition and analgesic treatment--an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Pain is highly prevalent in nursing homes (NH) in several countries. Data about pain in Dutch NH's, where medical care is delivered by specifically trained NH-physicians, are not available. The aim of the present study is to determine prevalence, course, correlates, recognition and treatment of pain among Dutch NH-patients and to make a comparison with international data. METHODS: The study-population consisted of 350 elderly NH-patients from 14 Dutch NH's. Pain (pain-subscale Nottingham Health Profile) and clinical characteristics (gender, age, cognition, depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, morbidity and functional status) were measured at baseline and at six months. Association of pain (baseline and six months) with clinical characteristics was assessed with chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Pain-prevalence was 68.0% (40.5% mild pain symptoms, 27.5% serious pain symptoms). 80% of the patients with pain at baseline still experienced pain at six months. Serious pain at baseline was significantly associated with depression (OR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.34-4.89) and anxiety (OR 2.47; 95% CI: 1.22-4.99). Serious pain at six months was associated with pain at baseline (OR 18.55; 95% CI: 5.19-66.31) and depression at baseline (OR: 2.63; 95% CI:1.10-6.29). Recognition of pain by NH-physicians varied (35% to 69.7%) depending on measurement instrument and severity of pain. Analgesics were received by 64.5% (paracetamol (acetaminophen), NSAIDs, opioids). Paracetamol (acetaminophen) and opioids frequently were prescribed below daily defined doses. CONCLUSION: Pain occurred frequently also among Dutch NH-patients and was associated with depression and anxiety. Recognition and treatment by NH-physicians proved sub-optimal. Future studies should focus on interventions to improve recognition and treatment of pain.